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. 2010 Aug;25(5):429-41.
doi: 10.1093/arclin/acq045. Epub 2010 Jun 21.

Diagnostic accuracy of the RBANS in mild cognitive impairment: limitations on assessing milder impairments

Kevin Duff  1 , Valerie L Hobson, Leigh J Beglinger, Sid E O'Bryant
Affiliations

Diagnostic accuracy of the RBANS in mild cognitive impairment: limitations on assessing milder impairments

Kevin Duff et al. Arch Clin Neuropsychol. 2010 Aug.

Abstract

The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) has demonstrated adequate sensitivity in detecting cognitive impairment in a number of neuropsychiatric conditions, including Alzheimer's disease. However, its ability to detect milder cognitive deficits in the elderly has not been examined. The current study examined the clinical utility of the RBANS by comparing two groups: Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI; n = 72) and cognitively intact peers (n = 71). Significant differences were observed on the RBANS Total score, 3 of the 5 Indexes, and 6 of the 12 subtests, with individuals with MCI performing worse than the comparison participants. Specificity was very good, but sensitivity ranged from poor to moderate. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for the RBANS Immediate and Delayed Memory Indexes and the Total Scale score were adequate. Although significant differences were observed between groups and the areas under the curves were adequate, the lower sensitivity values of the RBANS suggests that caution should be used when diagnosing conditions such as MCI.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
ROC curves for selected RBANS Indexes. All RBANS Index scores are adjusted for age, education, and WRAT-3 Reading scores.
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